Adapting Western-Based Restorative Justice Models to Account for Cultural Distinctiveness

Source: (2004) M.A. thesis, Conflict Analysis and Management, Royal Roads University, Canada. Downloaded 10 December 2004.

Are cultural assumptions and biases inherent in the theory and practice of victim-offender mediation (VORP), and if so, what are they? How, if at all, do cultural factors affect the overall experience and outcome for participants of a victim-offender facilitation? Is it possible for a Western-based VORP model to accommodate the cultural needs, traditions, beliefs, and norms of a minority cultural group such as the Indo-Canadian community, and if so, how?
This action research project integrated what is already known in theory and practice by exploring the role of cultural analysis and cultural experts in the development of suitable models of restorative justice. The research examined the flexibility of the VORP model and the willingness/ability of the participants to adapt the model to account for and better suit their cultural variances. The research looks at the broader implications of the findings for restorative justice practitioners and other multi-cultural conflict settings. Author’s abstract.